Shark tips Masters apprentice

Flower power: Tiger Woods unleashes a drive at the 13th hole during his penultimate practice round before the Masters at Augusta National. Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

After watching his young Queensland sidekick tear apart Augusta National in practice, Greg Norman rated $81 outsider Adam Scott a strong chance to win the US Masters at his first attempt this week.

Scott, who teamed with Norman against highly rated young Americans Charles Howell and Matt Kuchar, had eight birdies, including four in a row, to help dispatch the Americans 5and4 in practice on Tuesday.

"He drove the ball magnificently today and putted fantastic," Norman said of Scott, who at 21 is making his Masters debut. "As long as he keeps going with that, he's got a very, very good, strong chance of winning this championship.

"He's the type of player that hits the ball extremely high, hits it hard and drives it extremely straight so, if his game is there like it is now, don't count him out."

While Norman is backing Scott to make a big impression at Augusta, fellow Australian Stuart Appleby believes hometown boy Howell has a great chance to make history.");document.write("

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Although he is also making his debut at the Masters, 22-year-old Howell knows as much about Augusta National as anyone in the 89-man field. He was born and raised about 8km from the famous course, and played his first round there when he was 10. He went around in 79 when he was just 12 years old.

"There's no weakness in his game," said Appleby, who will be playing in his sixth Masters. "Charlie's day will come and when it does, it will come often. It's just a matter of time."

A glance at the history books would suggest Scott and Howell have their work cut out if either is to fulfil Norman's or Appleby's predictions of glory this week.

Fuzzy Zoeller was the latest man to win the Masters at his first attempt, in 1979, and he was just the third player (after Gene Sarazen and Horton Smith) to achieve the feat in the tournament's 67-year history.

Scott tees off in the third group with American Kevin Sutherland and, perhaps in a telling omen, Zoeller.

With his high-profile coach Butch Harmon watching from the sidelines, Scott continued his short love affair with Augusta in Tuesday's practice round with Norman, Howell and Kuchar.

"I had four birdies in a row, on 12, 13, 14 and 15, and Greg and I took the money," Scott said. "We killed them. Greg was driving the ball fantastically."

Norman had been sought out by the three young turks for a practice round, in which he had been expected to dispense sage advice about the quirky nature of Augusta. But Norman said: "I didn't have to give Adam much advice at all. He made about eight birdies and was in a very good mindset."

Scott revealed he had picked Norman's brain about Augusta's tricky greens. "It's all about placing it in the right spots on the greens," he said. "You really have to know the greens well to do well here and Greg's got 20 years of experience."

After a final practice round with Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara on Wednesday, Scott planned to compete in the afternoon par-three competition, with his father, Phil, carrying his bag.

Howell, the 2001 US PGA Tour rookie of the year, has also been enjoying himself in the lead-up.

"It's awesome," he said. "It's been a dream of mine and it's good to get here finally."

Meanwhile, the alterations to Augusta should suit Robert Allenby, who many believe is the most likely to become the first Australian to win the Masters. The course has been lengthened 260 metres, and Allenby's coach, Steve Bann, said that played into the hands of his talented pupil.

"Now it's a driver's course, and Robert's driving the ball well," Bann said. "He's been losing a few iron shots to the right but once he tunes into something important like this, I think he'll be OK.

"Robert's proved himself on this tour [winning four times]. The next step is to contend in majors and it would be nice to see him coming down the stretch with a chance."

Fellow Victorian Appleby has had a poor start to the year. "My swing's OK but I'm screwing up my alignment," he said.

Norman, meanwhile, made no bold predictions for himself as he prepared for his 22nd crack at a green jacket.

At 47, he understands that time has probably passed him by, but he won't come up short for lack of effort. The former world No1 believes his best chance will occur if the fairways are firm and fast, offering plenty of roll.

"I don't carry the ball as long as some of these young kids," Norman said. "If the conditions stay like this, I feel pretty comfortable. If we get a deluge and the ball plugs and doesn't roll, different story."